As finalists for Goodyear’s 24th annual North America Highway Hero Award, three professional truck drivers battled flames to pull victims from their burning vehicles in as many Arizona accidents, and one driver came to the rescue of a Minneapolis Metro Transit police officer who was attacked by a suspect in a drug deal.
Elizabeth Pavlista, of Miami, Ariz.; Edward Regener, of Perres, Calif.; Richard Miner, of Phoenix; and Marlon Marum, of Burnsville, Minn.; were named finalists today, Feb. 13, for trucking’s most prestigious award for heroism.
“Lives were saved this year because of the actions of these three men and this woman,” said Steve McClellan, vice president for commercial tire systems for Akron, Ohio-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. “We are indebted to truck drivers across the United States and Canada who keep America rolling and who are there for us in a time of need. Truck drivers are the true American heroes. They have become the eyes and ears of our highways. And when we’ve needed help, they stopped and put themselves in harm’s way.”
Although it’s not unusual for a woman truck driver to be a finalist for this award, having two drivers from one city – in this case, Phoenix – never has happened. Equally unique, three of the accidents occurred in one state – Arizona, McClellan said.
Journalists from the trucking industry now are voting on the four finalists, who will be introduced Thursday, March 22, at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. One driver will be named the 2006 Goodyear North America Highway Hero at the Truck Writers of North America annual banquet and receive a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond, a plaque and a specially designed ring; the other finalists will receive a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a plaque.
For 2006, the finalists are:
Risking her own life, the six-year truck driver struggled to pull a large woman from the burning car. Pavlista helped the man operate the fire extinguisher amid popping sounds coming from the car. Just as the car fuel tank exploded, they managed to pull the woman farther from the flames.
Pavlista stayed with the woman, despite the intense heat coming from the blaze. State police from nearby Globe, Ariz., and firefighters arrived, and Pavlista was told to move her truck away from the rising flames. Despite spraying four extinguishers on the fire, it continued to burn. The truck driver said she didn’t want to leave the woman, but was forced back to her truck.
The woman was airlifted by helicopter, but news reports said she later died. Pavlista, who drives by the spot every day, said she’s constantly reminded of that day and feels sad that the woman succumbed to her injuries.
Fire erupted in the pickup truck and in the cab and first trailer of the truck. Regener’s shipment accelerated the fire and added to the toxicity of the smoke. Regener immediately worked to remove two men from the car and a man and woman from the pickup truck before the fire was able to spread farther.
One Goodyear police officer said Regener was crucial in helping him remove the large male pickup driver and away from the flames. Regener was later transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation. A passenger in the pickup truck later died from her injuries.
The woman was trapped in her car; the roof of the car had collapsed onto the seats; and the doors were jammed closed. The truck driver returned to his cab and called for help. Just then, he saw flames coming from the rear of the car. Miner ran back to the car and used his fire extinguisher to put out the fire and somehow was able to pry open the car door and pull the woman to safety.
He stayed with the severely injured woman for nearly 20 minutes, cradling her head and talking with her, until emergency crews arrived.
The officer said he had observed two men allegedly engaged in an illegal drug transaction. After continued surveillance, the officer approached the men. One became unruly and they struggled as the officer used his stun gun to no effect.
Marum pulled to the curb and sounded his air horn to draw attention to the altercation. He then ran to help the officer, who was pinned to the ground by the suspect inside a glass bus shelter. Marum grabbed the man’s arms even after the stun gun was used again. Marum, the officer and the suspect all received the shock. Finally, the officer was able to regain control of his weapons and the suspect.
Founded by Goodyear in 1983, the Highway Hero program recognizes professional truck drivers and the often unnoticed, life-saving rescues and roadside assistance they provide as their jobs take them across North America. For more information on the program, go to www.goodyear.com/truck/whatsnew/heroes.html.